Collapsible form for cisterns.



C. L. CRAIG.

COLLAPSIBLE FORM FOR CISTERNS. APPLICATION FiLED Aue.28. 1914.

1,171,176. Patented Feb. 8,1916.

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C. L. CRAIG. COLLAPSIBLE FORM FOR CISTERNS. APPLICATION FILED Auaze.1914.

1,171,176, PeIeeIea Feb. 8,1916

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEYS molding apparatus and before the similar view CLYDE L. CRAIG,or wlisHiNeToNcoUnr-Housn, oHIo.

COLLAPSIBLE FORM FOR CISTERNS.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Feb. s, isis.

Application filed August 28, v19114. Serial No. 859,071. i

To all whom it may concern:

Y Be it'known that I, CLYDE L. CRAIG, a

V citizen of the United States,and a resident of lfifashingtonCourt-House, in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Collapsible Forms for Cisterns, of whichthe following is a specification. j

My present invention relates particularly to sectional adjustable moldsutilized in the formation of water storage cisterns and 'i particularlyto Figs. 1, 10, land 11, it will other structures of this character, andmy primary object is to provide an arrangement by which a cistern maybeconstructed of cementitious material within the ground, in a minimumspace of time, withoutthe use of bolts, nuts and special tools, withoutthe use of calculating instruments, and lastly without the necessity ofworkmen particularly skilled in the erection of structures of thischaracter.

The objects above outlined lead naturally to many others, among which itshould be mentioned that this inventionfaims to provide an arrangementwherein from start to finish is perfectly practically fool-proof.

These and other objects, together with the advantages arising therefrom,will be clearly apparent from the following description in whichreference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of thisspecification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through Aa cistern illustrating the useof my` improved latter has been removed, Fig. 2 is a. view partly inplan and partly in horizontal section, taken substantially online 2,2 ofFig. 1, Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-3of Fig.' 1, Fig. l is a perspective detail view of one of thesingle-piece upper wall sections removed, Fig. 5 is a of one of thesingle-piece lower wall sections, Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of thetwo-part adjustable upper wall sections, Fig. 7 is a similar View of oneof the two-part adjustable lower wall sections, Fig. Sis a detailperspective view of one of the two-part adjustable Y a detail horizontalsection through adjacent portions of two of the wall sectionsillustrating the application of an implement designed according ing thecontiguous portions of the wall sections together, Fig. 10 isfa planview of a guided and 'g'portio'nV of the digging guide "ring partly theoperation f base sections, Fig. 9 is.

to my invention' for drawbroken'y away and in section, Fig. 11 is across lsection therethrough illustrating its practical application, Fig.12 is a detail perspective view of one of the implements designed inaccordance with my invention for use as va quick detachable connectionbetween mold sections in lieu of bolts and the like, and Fig. 13 is asimilar view of a modiied form ofimplement for the same pur- POSQ- IReferring nowV to the several -iigures and be notedthat .in digging intothe ground sity for the use of thecalculating `instruments inadapted tothe use of practical' workmen usually engagedjin the erection ofstructures'in connection with which my Vinvention is intended Jfor use.The proper `digging of l the opening in which the cistern isto Abeerected'is merely essential inasmuch as thewall .of such `openingthereafter'constitutes `the o uter wall of the `mold space,

y the inner wall o'fjwhich mold space is con-'1 Vstituted by the severalmold-'sections which willbe'hereinafter described. This diggingguidering, Vas clearlyV seen at'A in Figs.- 10 and; 11, includesajplurality of sections A( having their' contiguous vends overlapping in`one ydirection throughout the series, and certain of which are providedwith selries of apertureswhereby the diameter of the ring, andconsequentlythe diameter ofv the opening to loe dug, may be regulated,it i being seen from Fig. 11 that the loweredges a; of these-veralsections are fia-red slightly infan outward direction in order toprovide su'ficient space between thev wall-of the dug sections to clearthe engaging heads-ot the rtion ofthe connecting implements B, theseseveral ring sections are provided with series o apertures a? and withpins a3 engage. ableT` withinV lsuch apertures, the connections j thusdescribed serving to eiectively unite the several'ring sections to forma substanopening and the'upper portions ofthe ring l iiO tiallyvrigidjguide by the use of which the workmen cannot go wronginthe)preparatorifdigsies Operation I 1 `The Vseveral implementsv B Lutilizedin the manner above described and also utilized at various points in themold itself as hereinafter described, may be either of the forms shownin Figs. 12 and 13. In Fig. 12 the implement B consists of a rod one endof which is bent laterally to form a handle Z2 and the opposite end ofwhich is bent sub.

stantially in the form of a ring b2, the eX- tremity of such ring beingbent laterally to form a shank b3 engageable through alined apertures inthe parts to be connected and having an angularly bent head b4 adaptedto be located upon the relatively opposite side of the connected partsto that against which the ring b2 is disposed.

As shown in F ig. 13 the implement b consists of a rod b5 similarly bentat one end to form a handle o?, and having a lateral extension 57 at itsopposite end which is connected by a shank bs extending laterallytherefrom at an intermediate point and forming a connection between thesame and a substantially parallel head 59, the angular extremity 57,shank -bs and parallel head b9 of this .form of the implementcorresponding in function to the ring b2, shank b3 and iead b4 of theform just described in connection with Fig. 12. l

TvVhen the preparatory digging operation has been completed through theuse of the digging guide ring previously described, a circular one-pieceguide band C is disposed centrally of the base of the ground opening i'so formed and partially embedded in the soil, as clearly seen in'FiO's.1 and 3, and thisband so disposed, thereafter forms an effective guidefor the concentric location of the several mold wall sections as willbek A clearly understood from the following.

vWith the guide band C disposed as just described, cementitious materialis disposed upon the base o f the prepared opening to form the base D ofthe finished cistern, the thickness of which may be readily gaged by theheight of the band C. As soon as this base D is laid the several basesections E of the mold are placed thereon as clearly shown in Figs. 1and 3, each of which base sections is generally triangular in form andprovided with a curved inner end e to abut the band C and a curved outerend e adjacent which is disposed a parallel curved angle piece e2forming a guide. The sev- Ieral base sections E are also provided alongone side edge with upwardly projecting angular lugs e3 and along theopposite edge with slotted openings et, this latter edge being adaptedto overlap the contiguous edge of the next adjacent section E in orderto engage over the lugs c3 of the latter and thus connect the severalbase sections E throughout the series, the lugs c3 being rotatable'toangular positions with respect to the slotted openings et, asclearlyshown 1n Fig. 3 in order to effectively lock the several basesections E in operative position. The several base sections E are alsoprovided with handles E by means of which they may be more readilymanipulated and disposed and removed froni operative position as above.The wall of the mold is formed in its lower portion of a plurality ofsubstantially rectangular lower wall plates F, each of which is flangedaround its entire edge, the side flanges 7 having slotted openings f andthe upper end flange f2 having upwardly projecting studs f3. Each ofthese lower wall sections F is also provided with inner handles F andone thereol:I is in two parts FZ and F 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 7,the part F3 carrying a supplemental connecting plate F4 upon its innersurface, adapted to lap the part F 2 and having slotted openings ft toregister with the apertures f5 of the part F2 for the reception of aconnecting U-bolt F 5.

In disposing the several lower wall sections F in position it is to beunderstood that their side flanges f are arranged in contacting relationand locked together by means of the implements B and B utilized in thesame manner as in connection with the sections of the digging guide ringA before described, the contact betw en the side flanges of the wallsections being secured at the time of the introduction or' the lockingimplements by means of clamping tongs or a similar implement such asshown at Gr in Fig. 9. lt is also to be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and3 that the lower flanged encs of the several lower wall sections F aredisposed upon the outer portions of the base sections E against theangular guide pieces c2 so that through the abutments of these basesections E against the guide band C and similar abutments of the lowerwall sections F against the guide pieces E2 of the base sections E, thewall of the mold is assured a position concentric with the guide band C,without loss of time, Vcalculation or trouble.

The several upper wall sections H with their lower rectangular' portions/t intermediate in'clined and tapering portions L and upper reducedextending neck portions h2 are disposed upon the lower wall sections Flwith which they coincide and their lower and intermediate portions justinentioned are provided with flanges oie. which the base flanges 7b3 ofthe lower sections are providedwith apertures 7b4' which receive th-Yupwardly projecting studs of the lower wall sections before described.Likewise the side flanges h5 of these upper wall sections have slottedopenings h in connection with which the implements B and B are utilizedto lock the upper wall sections together throughout the series.

The upper wall sections Hare each providedwith handles H- and one of thesections as seen clearly in Fig. 6 is in two parts H2 and H3 coincidingwith the two-part lower wall section shown in Fig. 7 the part H3 havingan inner connecting plate H* with slots 71,7 adapted to coincide withapertures LS of the part H2 for the reception of connecting `Ubolts,(not shown) which are duv plicates of the bolt F5, though smaller intions are of course allowed to remain in operative position until thecementitious material has properly settled and hardened and may then beremoved by withdrawing the outer neck ring I and disconnecting theU-bolts uniting the two parts of the'twopart upper and lower wallsections and reducing the width of these two-part sections by therelatively sliding movement of their parts after the removal of theconnecting implements B and B uniting the same with the side portions ofthe adjacent wall sections.v Vith the two-part sections withdrawn it isthen comparatively easy to .withdraw the remaining wall sections afterdetaching the connecting implements B and B at the several points atwhich they'are utilized. In the meantime during the erection ofv theywall sections of the mold, the operator stands within the guide band Cupon the ground and afterward steps out upon the base section E in orderto properly dispose the cementitious material within said guide band.After the removal ofthe wall sections, the base sections E may bereadily detached and removed likewise the guide band C and after fillingin the groove formed by the latter, the body of the cistern ispractically completed.

It is to be observed that the quick detachable connections between theseveral detachable parts of the apparatus do away withv the use of boltsand similar connectionswhich from their number would necessarily requirethe expenditure of considerable time in coupling and uncoupling theparts, and adding this advantage in the saving of time to those alreadymentioned in avoiding the necessity for particularly skilledV workmenand the use of calculating instruments, it will be seen that I providean arrangement materially improved over those of a similar Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for ve cents nature now in use and one whichparticularly recommends itself to use in the outlying districts wherecisterns are most frequently employed.

I claim: Y

1. In a collapsible cistern mold, upper and lower detachably connectedWall sections, means for detachably connecting said wall sections, acentrally located cylindrical ring adapted to be partially embedded inthe ground in the base o-f the cistern, and horizontal radiallyextending base sections located around said ring and positioned thereby, having means adjacent their outer edges adapted to receive andsupport the lower ends of the lower wall sections, certain of said wallsections and certain of said base sections embodying adjustablyconnected portions for the purpose described.

2. In a collapsible cistern mold, a plurality of detachably connectedwall sections,

trally located cylindrical ring adapted to be partially embedded in theground inthe base of the cistern, and horizontally radially extendingbase sections located around said ring and positioned thereby, havingupwardly projecting portions adjacent their outer ends adapted toreceive and support the lower ends of the corresponding wall sections.

3. In a collapsible cistern mold, upper and lower ydetachably connectedwall sections each having apertured inwardly projecting flanges aroundits sides, means for connecting the sections through said apertures, acentrally located cylindrical ring adapted to be partially embeddedinthe ground in the base of the cistern, and horizontal radiallyextending said ring and positioned thereby, having upwardly extendingcurved angle pieces adjacent their outer edges adapted to receive thebase flanges of the corresponding wall sections.

4f. In a collapsible-cistern mold, a plurality of detachably connectedwall sections, means for detachably connecting the said wall sections, acentrally located cylindrical ring adapted to be partially embedded inthe ground in the base of the'cistern, and

vhorizontal radially extending base sections located around said ringand positioned ends adapted to receive and support the lower ends of thecorresponding wall sec? MYRON Gr. CLEAR, SoLoN C. KEMON. j

each, yby addressing the Commissioner Aof '.Eatents,

Washington, D. C.

base sections located around.

means for connecting said sections, a centhereby,vhaving means adjacenttheir outer

